Drug-related Deaths Reached All Time High – More Deaths than People Dying from Car Crashes

Americans’ struggle with opium and heroin addiction goes all the way back to the American Civil War, when soldiers on the battlefield were given opium-derived morphine for pain. Morphine gave way to the creation of Methadone in 1937. And then in the mid-80’s into the 1990’s, the pharmaceutical companies created synthetic opiates: Vicodin, OxyContin, and Percocet.

The opiate epidemic has reached an all-time high in the United States, with drug-related deaths now surpassing deaths from vehicle accidents. Statista’s Niall McCarthy wrote, “drug-induced deaths (have) reached 49,714 while road crash deaths fell to 32,675,” in 2014. Opioid- and heroin-related deaths have reached epidemic levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “

But there seems to be hope for heroin and opiate addicted Americans seeking to beat their addiction. As The Free Thought Project has reported, Kratom, a highly beneficial naturally grown plant, shows promise in helping addicts defeat their disease. Kratom, when taken in pill, tea, or tincture form, has opiate-like properties, which help users curb their cravings for heroin and opiates.

Public outcry kept the federal government from classifying Kratom as a narcotic in September, but it’s anyone’s guess whether or not the new Trump Administration will push through its original plans to outlaw yet another plant. For now, Kratom is still available.